Sunday, April 26, 2009

Along this line of thought is another form of policy called the “care sheet.” This is made up by you and handed to every customer after they receive a tattoo. Just you telling them about the after care and a big poster in front of the chair outlining the steps is not enough. (Which you ought to have anyway.) You must make up a sheet with each step printed on it explaining the care of a tattoo and the customer’s responsibility in taking care of it. This is important because the healing is critical in the quality of the tattoo and the health of the customer. Every precaution should be taken to ensure that they do this. An example of a Care Sheet can also be found in the end of the Chapter on Bandages. Study it carefully, and add anything else that you may feel is important. I certainly would not subtract from the information though. It is advisable to post a notice in a prominent area of the shop stating that you don’t tattoo people who are afflicted with sugar diabetes (they are prone to infection and heal poorly, or not at all). It also won’t hurt to include hemophiliacs on the same notice. Such a notice will provide you with some more legal protection.

Being in business for yourself has great benefits. One of these is that you are your own boss and you are responsible for making the money. In other words, you are writing your own check. But, just like an hourly wage, in the business world, time is money and time means money. You never want to be in a position where you are unnecessarily holding yourself up or finding yourself doing things twice. This costs you money or will keep you from making more money, and believe me, this is not professional.